seanbyrne92's review
4.0
Really enjoyed reading this in the second installment involving Dennis Milne - years after we last see him. He is now under a new identity Mick Kane in the Philippines as he aims to escape his past and continue on with his life. As he learns of a death of his former colleague and friend Asif Malik - he is burdened with responsibility to find out more and ensure his death is revenged. He makes the treacherous journey back to London to solve the case. From here, the story unravels at a great pace keeping you hooked on Dennis' every move. I even was invested in his fleeting romance - that's how the author draws you in to Dennis' world. Really enjoyed it - will be ordering the 3rd installment in 'Payback'
jaco_minnaar's review
2.0
I did not read the first book in the series. If I had, it might have changed my opinion. As it stands though, these are my thoughts.
There is way too much going on in this story for it's relatively short length. There's no time to really build suspense, as plot points are explained almost as soon as they come up.
The story itself strongly reminds me of the first season of True Detective. The difference, however, is that TD built its suspense and mystery from the beginning, and it would have served this story well if it had done something similar. The whole conspiracy paedophile ring is only revealed in the latter half of the book, with the whole revenge thing taking the main stage for most of the story. This is a major oversight and a missed opportunity to have created some real suspense.
All in all, not a bad read, just rather disappointing. I have to give the author props for closing up all the plot points rather nicely, with no real questions going unanswered by the end.
There is way too much going on in this story for it's relatively short length. There's no time to really build suspense, as plot points are explained almost as soon as they come up.
The story itself strongly reminds me of the first season of True Detective. The difference, however, is that TD built its suspense and mystery from the beginning, and it would have served this story well if it had done something similar. The whole conspiracy paedophile ring is only revealed in the latter half of the book, with the whole revenge thing taking the main stage for most of the story. This is a major oversight and a missed opportunity to have created some real suspense.
All in all, not a bad read, just rather disappointing. I have to give the author props for closing up all the plot points rather nicely, with no real questions going unanswered by the end.
ericwelch's review
4.0
Ex-DS Dennis Milne is partnered with a former informant and running a small hotel and dive shop in the Philippines. He’s hiding out after the events that occurred in the first novel, The Business of Dying. He’s asked to kill a man due on Friday’s plane from London. Having recognized the man as the killer of his former partner, DS Asif Malik, he shoots him and then decides (implausibly) to return to London where he was the subject of an intense manhunt to wreck vengeance on Les Pope, the man behind Malik’s killing, and also the man who solicited Milne to kill the man off the plane.
The trail to Malik’s killer is convoluted and has a surprising ending, at least as far as one character is concerned. Good read. The books should be read in order.
The trail to Malik’s killer is convoluted and has a surprising ending, at least as far as one character is concerned. Good read. The books should be read in order.
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